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Who Are The Wise Men?

Matthew 2:9–11 (NLT): After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

Wreath. 

The Christian symbolism behind the wreath is: since the circle has no beginning and no end, it represents God's love for us, which has no beginning and no end. God loves us through thick and thin, regardless of what daily challenges we happen to be struggling through.

Candy Cane

The candy cane had its beginnings in the 1600s when a candy maker and choirmaster gave the candy to anxious children during services. At this time it was just a white peppermint stick. The cane as we know it didn't evolve for another 200 years when a candy maker in Indiana introduced the red stripes and cane shape. He wanted to make a candy that could be a witness during the holiday season.

The white represented the virgin birth and the sinless nature of Jesus. You'll notice some candy canes have thin red stripes along with the thicker red ones. The thinner stripes represented the scourging he endured while the thicker ones symbolized the blood he shed for our sins. The shape of the candy cane represents the shepherd's crook, symbolizing Jesus as the great shepherd. Turn it upside down and you have the letter "J" the first letter in Jesus.

The Wise Men were Magi from the east. Possibly from (Persia?)

They were educated in astronomy, maybe astrology.

Being influenced by Daniel and Mordecai, they were well versed in the OT.

As men treated like royalty, they probably arrived with a large entourage with great fanfare. One can only speculate because these 3 wise men wouldn’t travel alone being well educated and traveling between 800 to 1,000 mile journey 

WHAT?

They followed a star…not just any star but “the” star 

A conjunction of Jupiter, Mars and Saturn in Pices?

Not likely to catch the curious attention of astronomers.

A comet?

Not likely as comets are common, and it had no association with Israel.

Genesis 3:15 (NLT): And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, 

and between your offspring and her offspring. 

He will strike your head, 

and you will strike his heel.” 

WHEN?

When Christ was a “young child” (verse 11). Probably not when Jesus was a newborn, but not more than two, since Mary and Joseph were living in a house (verse 11).

Herod wanted every boy child 2 years and younger killed 

Matthew 2:16 (NLT): Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance.

WHERE?

To Jerusalem first (verse 1) as a courtesy to the new king since it was a capital area.

WHY?

To welcome and worship the new king and present gifts to him.

THE GIFTS

Gold

A tribute to a king.

The gift of gold was a gift to honor Jesus' royalty as the King of kings. Gold has always been valued as the most precious commodity and was often presented to kings.

Numbers 24:7 “A scepter shall rise out of Israel…”

Daniel 2:44 “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people… “

Revelation 19:16 “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Frankincense

Incense – represents purity, holiness and diety.

The gift of frankincense was a gift for Jesus as the priest. Hebrews says that Jesus is our great high priest who has sacrificed himself once for all. From Albert Barnes’ commentary: “It was a white resin or gum. It was highly fragrant when burned, and was, therefore, used in worship, where it was burned as a pleasant offering to God.”

Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

Wonderful Counsellor – Supernatural One, Almighty God

Everlasting Father – Messiah is a father who guards, supplies and cares for his people.

Prince of Peace.

Myrrh

Represents a coming death. It is used in embalming a dead body.

Myrrh was a product of Arabia. It was used chiefly in embalming the dead, because it had the property of preserving them from decay. Since Myrrh was a burial and embalming ointment, this gift would’ve been presented in recognition of Jesus sacrificing his life.

Isaiah 53:4-5 “4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

Conclusion

The Wise Men knew of the prophecies of old, and were well versed in astronomy. The coupling of these two let them to seek out the Christ child who was born King of the Jews, the Son of God, who was to die for our sins.